Device for re-inking typewriter ribbons

ABSTRACT

A jig in the form of a flexible post holding a rotatable member, the bottom of the post being attached to the underside of the top jaw of a spring clip adapted to grip the type guide lugs of a typewriter with the rotatable member adjustably bearing against the ribbon thereby pressing the back of the ribbon against a resilient sheet having a layer of pressure-releasable inking material, the sheet sufficiently thin to be insertable on the platen, the ribbon spool being turned simultaneously with the moving of the platen.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,881,588

Krulwich May 6, 1975 [54] DEVICE FOR RE-INKING TYPEWRITER 2,446,360 8/1948 Clark 197/113 RIBBONS 3,159,264 12/1964 Henry 197 153 A [76] Inventor: Lester S. Krulwich, 241 Central Park West, New York, N.Y. 10024 [22] Filed: Dec. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 423,558

[52] U.S. Cl. 197/171 [51] Int. Cl B4lj 31/14 [58] Field of Search 197/153 A, 113, 171

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 818,732 4/1906 Altshul 197/113 895,720 8/1908 Briggs 197/113 2,074,971 3/1937 Pelton 197/171 2,441,973 5/1948 Onzay i 197/171 Primary Examiner-Ernest T. Wright, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT A jig in the form of a flexible post holding a rotatable member, the bottom of the post being attached to the underside of the top jaw of a spring clip adapted to grip the type guide lugs of a typewriter with the rotatable member adjustably bearing against the ribbon thereby pressing the back of the ribbon against a resilient sheet having a layer of pressure-releasable inking material, the sheet sufficiently thin to be insertable on the platen, the ribbon spool being turned simultaneously with the moving of the platen.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures DEVICE FOR RE-INKING TYPEWRITER RIBBONS This invention relates to a device for re-inking the ribbons of typewriters. Most typists discard the used ribbon and, dirtying their hands, insert a new one even though the material of the used ribbon is not worn out. Previous re-inking devices require either messy removal and handling of the ribbon or provide receptacles, wicks, reservoirs or pads which are cumbersome, relatively expensive and impractical or do not insure the deposit of an exact, even ink film on the ribbon, making it more worthwhile to buy a new one.

An object of this invention is to provide a handy device for re-inking a typewriter ribbon that does not require the removal of the ribbon from the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device that will quickly apply an even, correct ink film on the used ribbon.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a ribbon re-inking device that is inexpensive to make, use and readily applied.

Further objects and structural details of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read in conjunction with accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a perferred embodiment of a jig on a conventional typewriter in accordance with my invention. FIG. 1 shows the jig in the form of a spring clip clamped on the center type guide lugs, the flexible post attached to the jig with the rotatable member on the post and the resilient sheet coated with pressure-releasable inking material on the platen with the optional cover sheet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the jig alone showing the spring clip, the attached flexible post and the rotatable member on the post.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the jig on the type guide lugs taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view on a larger scale of the jig in the form of the spring clip, with the flexible post and rotatable member, clamped on the center type guide lugs but with the rest of the typewriter omitted.

Upon reference to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that it shows a device for re-inking the ribbon of a typewriter 11 comprising a jig 12 in the form of a spring clip 13 on which is mounted a flexible post 14 holding a rotatable member 15. The spring clip 13 is adapted to grip the center type guide lugs 16 with the rotatable member bearing against the ribbon 10, thereby pressing the ribbon 10 against the resilient sheet 17 coated, preferably on one side, with a layer of pressure-releasable inking material 18, the said sheet 17 having been inserted on the platen 19 with its inking surface layer 18 facing the back 10a of the ribbon 10.

The basic jig 12, shown in FIG. 2 and other views, is in the form of a spring clip 13 with upper 13a and lower 13b jaws which removably clamp on the type guide lugs 16 and which is capable of being positioned forward or backward on the said type guide lugs 16. A flexible post 14 is secured to and extends outwardly and upwardly from the bottom 13c of the top jaw 13a of the spring clip 13. Preferably the bottom end of the post 14 extends into the opening 20 in back of the top jaw 13a of the spring clip 13 and the bottom 130 of the top spring clip jaw 13a is preferably and suitably leveled at 21 integrally or otherwise.

Mounted on the post 14 is a rotatable member 15, preferably cylindrical and resilient. The height of this rotatable member 15 is at least equal to the width of the ribbon 10. Preferably the top of the post 14 has an attachment 22 to prevent the rotatable member 15 from sliding off.

The inking sheet 17 is resilient and sufficiently thin so as to be capable of being inserted on the platen l9 and being reset up and down on the platen 19. Optionally and preferably a resilient sheet 23, without any inking surface and sufficiently thin, is inserted with and over most of the inking sheet 17 on the platen l9 and the top of the uninked sheet 23 set below.the level of the ribbon 10. Preferably the inking sheet 17 has an uninked margin 17a for clean handling.

OPERATION OF THE DEVICE FIG. 1 shows the fundamental operation of the device. The inking sheet 17, optionally and preferably covered by the uninked sheet 23, is inserted on the platen 19 after releasing the paper lever 24. The top of the inking sheet 17 is raised above the uninked sheet 23 being positioned so that the upper part of the layer of inking material 18 is in back of the ribbon 10 behind and above the level of the type guide 16a. The paper lever 24 is closed.

The top cover 25 is opened and the shift lock for caps 26 pressed down thereby raising the ribbon 10 behind and higher above the type guide 16a. The ribbon 10 may preferably be raised still higher by lifting a letter key bar 27 and blocking its return with a small object 28, like an eraser, under the key bar 27.

The spring clip 13 is clamped frictionally on the type guide lugs 16, gripping and positioned so that the rotatable member 15 on the post 14 is pressing firmly on the ribbon 10. This simultaneously presses the back of the ribbon 10a on the inking surface layer 18 of the sheet 17 on the platen 19.

Without removing the ribbon 10 from the typewriter 11 one of the ribbon spools 29 is turned by one hand while the other hand, holding the platen knob 19a, moves the platen 19 back and forth once or twice and then turns the platen 19 to a lower space on the inking sheet 17. A carriage lever 30 may be used in doing this. When an uninked sheet 23 is being used as a cover and its top has been reached, the inking sheet 17 is raised higher above the uninked sheet 23 and repositioned with a new part of the inking surface layer 18 behind the ribbon 10 and above the type guide 16a.

When the ribbon spool 29 has been completely turned in one direction it may be turned back by using the ribbon spool lever 31 or automatically. This may be done as often as desired thereby continuously transferring the inking surface layer 18 but rolling the ribbon 10 in one direction or back and forth once ordinarily re-inks the ribbon l0 sufficiently. If the rotatable member 15 is set too far forward or back to permit it to revolve and exert pressure on the ribbon 10 the spring clip 13 can be repositioned in a moment. The paper bail bar 32 is preferably kept up when the device is used.

The spring clip 13 is then removed, the object 28 taken from under the key bar 27, the top cover 25 closed and the sheets 17, 23 taken from the platen 19. A typewriter key 27 or keys 270, preferably with a protective cover, can also be used without the spring clip 13 to strike and bear on the ribbon 10 thereby transferring ink from the inking sheet 17 to the back of the ribbon 10a although this would take much more time and not be as effective in full ink transfer. Also the same device can be used on electric and other machines even though the ribbon spools 29 are differently placed and shaped.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A device for re-inking the ribbon of a typewriter provided with ribbon spools, a center type guide and a platen movable back and forth and around comprising a resilient sheet coated on one side with a layer of pressure-releasable inking material, said sheet being sufficiently thin so as to be insertable on the platen with a portion of its ink coating behind and above the level of the center type guide and in back of the ribbon, and a pressure-applying member comprising a rotatable member detachably mounted and positioned so that said rotatable member continuously bears on the ribbon as the ribbon is reeled back and forth to and from one of said spools causing the ribbon to press on the inking surface of the said sheet thereby depositing ink on the back of the ribbon from the sheet.

2. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 1,

said rotatable member being mounted on a flexible post attached to a spring clip so that said device is removably clamped on type guide lugs of said typewriter and capable of being positioned forward or backwards.

3. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 2, said rotatable member being mounted on said flexible post attached to said spring clip so that said device is removably clamped on type guide lugs of said typewriter and positioned so that said rotatable member bears on the ribbon as a ribbon spool is being turned in conjunction with the platen being moved back and forth and turned.

4. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 3, said spring clip having an upper and lower jaw which removably clamp on type guard lugs of said typewriter and said flexible post being secured to and extending outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of said upper jaw of said spring clip.

5. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 4, said resilient sheet provided with a resilient sheet without a layer of inking material and sufficiently thin to be inserted on the platen with and over most of said sheet that is coated on one side with a layer of pressurereleasable inking material, and said uninked sheet being set below the level of the ribbon. 

1. A device for re-inking the ribbon of a typewriter provided with ribbon spools, a center type guide and a platen movable back and forth and around comprising a resilient sheet coated on one side with a layer of pressure-releasable inking material, said sheet being sufficiently thin so as to be insertable on the platen with a portion of its ink coating behind and above the level of the center type guide and in back of the ribbon, and a pressure-applying member comprising a rotatable member detachably mounted and positioned so that said rotatable member continuously bears on the ribbon as the ribbon is reeled back and forth to and from one of said spools causing the ribbon to press on the inking surface of the said sheet thereby depositing ink on the back of the ribbon from the sheet.
 2. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 1, said rotatable member being mounted on a flexible post attached to a spring clip so that said device is removably clamped on type guide lugs of said typewriter and capable of being positioned forward or backwards.
 3. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 2, said rotatable member being mounted on said flexible post attached to said spring clip so that said device is removably clamped on type guide lugs of said typewriter and positioned so that said rotatable member bears on the ribbon as a ribbon spool is being turned in conjunction with the platen being moved back and forth and turned.
 4. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 3, said spring clip having an upper and lower jaw which removably clamp on type guard lugs of said typewriter and said flexible post being secured to and extending outwardly and upwardly from the bottom of said upper jaw of said spring clip.
 5. A ribbon re-inking device according to claim 4, said resilient sheet provided with a resilient sheet without a layer of inking material and sufficiently thin to be inserted on the platen with and over most of said sheet that is coated on one side with a layer of pressure-releasable inking material, and said uninked sheet being set below the level of the ribbon. 